Review and Recommendation Archive

Book Reviews

To search page use ctrl+f, enter search term, and hit enter!

Summer Reading Book Review:
Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia #2)
By C. S. Lewis

Prince Caspian is the fourth* book of Narnia, written by C. S. Lewis. It's about a prince in Narnia called Caspian and four children who lived in England.
In Narnia Prince Caspian had to escape from his uncle, the King. Prince Caspian had to call the children into Narnia with a magic horn. In the story the four children help Prince Caspian to defeat his uncle in a long battle.
I recommend this book to anyone who liked the Narnia series, battles, and adventures.
Reviewed by John
*- Prince Caspian was published second in this series, but chronologically comes fourth.

tags: fantasy, series, adventure, religious, classic, courage

Summer Reading Book Review:
My Life in Pink and Green
By Lisa Greenwald

Lucy Desberg is a twelve-year-old daughter and granddaughter of the owners of Old Mill Pharmacy. When she finds out that the pharmacy is in danger of closing, she comes up with a plan to help out. Lucy starts doing other girls' makeup to raise money. Then she finds a "going green" grant at Earth Club. The grant is supported by the mayor of her town, and will give money to any business that wants to go green. Lucy thinks that the perfect way to save the pharmacy is to start an eco spa, so she applies for the grant.
I really liked this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a cheery read about a very optimistic girl who is determined to save her family's pharmacy.
Reviewed by Grace

tags: family life, mother-daughter, cosmetics, environmental, jobs and careers

Summer Reading Book Review:
Stuart Little
By E. B. White

This book is about a mouse named Stewart Little. One day he went to a park and drove a toy boat named The Wasp. In the boat race a man fell in the water. After the race his brother George put him out.
Reviewed by Jack

tags: adventure, animals, classic, mouse, family favorite

Summer Reading Book Review:
Talons of Power (Wings of Fire #9)
By Tui Sutherland

I thought this was an amazing book because it was surprising book, how it ended was absolutely amazing.
Reviewed by Adian

tags: fantasy, magic, dragons, adventure, prophecies

Summer Reading Book Review:
Awkward
By Svetlana Chmakova

This book review is about a graphic novel called Awkward! it is by Svetlana Chmakova. It is about a new girl at her school! I really really loved this book and so will you. I recommend this book to ages 8 and up.
Reviewed by Lauren

tags: graphic novel, middle school, friendship, realistic fiction, science, art

Summer Reading Book Review:
Matilda
By Roald Dahl

This book review is about an all-time classic, Matilda. most of you might know what I'm talking about, others i would be glad to explain it to you. It is by... Roald Dahl! It is about a girl mistreated by her parents, and principal. She also has a great teacher, Miss Honey. I love the book and movie.
Reviewed by Lauren

tags: classic, humor, magic, Dahl House

Summer Reading Book Review:
Ghosts
By Raina Telgemeier

This book is about Maya and her big sister Cat. Cat's sister has a disease called Cystic Fibrosis, it affect breathing and digestion. Maya was born with it and her sister is scared about Maya dying. There is no cure, sadly. Cat and her family are moving to Southern California in Bahia de la Luna. Cat and Maya miss their friends very badly. The sun only shines 62 days a year. Cat meets a new kid and he tells her that there's ghosts and she is super scared.
Reviewed by Riona

tags: graphic novel, ghost story, paranormal, family life, family favorite

Summer Reading Book Review:
Winter Turning (Wings of Fire #7)
By Tui Sutherland

Winter Turning is the best book so far! My favorite part was the end. Best book series ever! The cool thing about these books is that they have pictures that shows what the characters look like.
Reviewed by Adian

tags: fantasy, series, magic, adventure, prophecies, dragons

Summer Reading Book Review:
Moon Rising (Wings of Fire #6)
By Tui Sutherland

Good book! The beginning was my favorite part of the whole book. I can't wait to finish the whole series, then I'm going to read the whole series over again!
Reviewed by Adian

tags: fantasy, series, magic, dragons, adventure, prophecies

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Bridge to Never Land
By Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

The Bridge to Never Land is a high flying book that reels in the fantasy world and the real world. It tells the interesting story of two kids who happen to find an old document from their favorite series... and suddenly they're a part of it! This book is a great reason to believe that might be too crazy.
Reviewed by Riley

tags: YA, fantasy, adventure, Peter Pan, magic, humor, mystery

Summer Reading Book Review:
Tunnels
By Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams

Tunnels, by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams, is a "deep" story about two boys and a father who get too curious when they find a whole city underground. This book makes you dig into your imagination and gets the reader to wonder: is there a whole other world under us?
Reviewed by Riley

tags: sci-fi/fantasy, dystopia, mystery, adventure

Summer Reading Book Review:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
By J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a must read book by J.K. Rowling. This book is for all ages! I would rate this book beyond 5 stars! In this book the main character Harry Potter gets revealed to his true identity of being a wizard. He also finds out that he is the most popular boy in the wizarding world. But being popular comes with having enemies. Not just in his new wizarding school does he have an enemy but outside of the school he has the evilest wizard Lord Voldemort hunting him. But Harry finds two friends that will help him defeat both of his enemies, Ron Weasely and Hermione Granger. The trio embarks on an amazing adventure as Harry learns the way of the wizards. Readers will love this book because of the adventure and imagination. I think that J.K. Rowling does a great job making the characters have a lot of depth and i would definitely want Hermione as my friend because she is so kind and witty. I also love J.K. Rowling comes up with lots of words and creatures. I <3 Harry Potter!
Reviewed by Amelia

tags: fantasy, series, fantasy, magic, classic, family favorite

Summer Reading Book Review:
Eyewitness: Battle
By Richard Holmes

Eyewitness: Battle is an information book on modern and historical warfare, from ancient civilization to the modern era. It is a great beginner's guide to the weapons and tactics used by a range of societies and cultures through many conflicts, from ancient battles, to medieval sieges, to Napoleonic warfare in Europe and right into modern global conflicts in Africa and the Middle East.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in historical warfare.
Reviewed by Michael

tags: nonfiction, history, war,

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles #1)
By Rick Riordan

The Red Pyramid is about siblings Carter and Sadie Kane, who find out that they are Egyptian magicians. Their father disappears and Egyptian gods are after them. Carter and Sadie are the most powerful magicians in their family for thousands of years, and they have to defeat an old evil to rescue their father. I liked the book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who liked Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.
Reviewed by Grace

tags: series, mythology, magic, adventure, siblings

Summer reading Book Review:
A Long Walk to Water (part 2)
By Linda Sue Park

In the second half of A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park, two separate stories entangled and resolved and solves both stories' problems. Salva, who grows up to be 20, goes around Sudan building wells and schools for those in need. Nya's sister becomes healthy and Salva finds his family.
Reviewed by anonymous

tags: historical fiction, Sudan, Africa, war

Summer Reading Book Review:
A Long Walk to Water (part 1)
By Linda Sue Park

In the first half of A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park, two stories are told in a different time periods but similar scenarios. Salva, a young boy from the southern Sudan tells the story of his war stricken village in 1885-2009. He escapes his village without his family. This 11 year old travels with a group of adult men until after about a year he finally makes it to a refugee camp and away from the war.
Nya, whom the second story is about, is an 11 year old girl, also living in a southern Sudan. Her story takes place in 2008-2009. Everyday, Nya walks a long distance to find water. She does this everyday until her little sister gets sicks. She can only drink clean water, which cannot be provided for her. Nya will have to find clean water or suffer over the loss of her sister.
Reviewed by anonymous

tags: historical fiction, Sudan, Africa, war

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Magician's Nephew
By C.S. Lewis

The Magician's Nephew is about the nephew of someone who thinks is a magician. This "magician" made two kinds of rings: yellow rings and green rings. He tricked his nephew's friend, Polly, into trying a yellow ring. The yellow ring made people go into what the "magician" thought was another world. Then his nephew tried on a yellow ring too and suddenly appeared in a pool in a wood that would later be called "the wood between the worlds."
Later on the boy and girl tried green rings and jumped into a pool, and appeared in a land called Narnia.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes adventures.
Reviewed by John

tags: fantasy, series, religious, family favorite, classics

Summer Reading Book Review:
Misty of Chincoteague
By Marguerite Henry

My book review is about Misty of Chincoteague. It's by Marguerite Henry. The two main characters are Paul, and his sisters name is Mareen. It is about horses. It takes place on Chincoteague. It is a good story and I recommend this book to all ages! I really really hope you read this book and I hope you like it!

tags: animals, horses, historical fiction

Summer Reading Book Review:
Paris For Two
By Phoebe Stone

This book review is about Paris For Two. I love this book because it is about pairs. The main character is Petunia Beanly. She is 12 and had to move to Paris. I love this book also because it is just a great story. I also hope you enjoy this book. I recommend it to anyone who has ever dreamed to go to Paris.
Reviewed by Lauren

tags: romance, France, Paris, travel, family

Summer Reading Book Review:
Smile!
By Raina Telgemeier

This book review is about a book called Smile! It is by Raina Telgemmeier. It is also a graphic novel. And therte are lots of characters in this book! It's about a girl named Raina it's kind of a true story. I really, really love this book and so will you!
Reviewed by Lauren

tags: graphic novel, realistic fiction, coming of age, family

Summer Reading Book Review:
Ready Player One
By Ernest Cline

Ready Player One is a book about a young orphan who goes to school through a virtual reality machine known as Oasis where the creator hid easter eggs (something hidden in a game) so hard to find it took 20 year for the first real clue found by this young orphan who with some help discovered the easter egg.
Reviewed by anonymous

tags: YA, sci-fi, dystopia, adventure, cyber punk

Summer Reading Book Review:
Sisters
By Raina Telgemeier

This book review is about a book called Sisters. It is also Raina Telgemeier. This book is part of a series called Smile! I would recommend this book to sisters that fight and at the end apologize in the end. I really really love this book I hope you do too!
Reviewed by Lauren

tags: graphic novel, realistic fiction, coming of age, family

Summer Reading Book Review:
Archie comics
By Bob Montana

The Archie Comics by Bob Montana and John L. Goldwater is a funny comic series about a clumsy teenage boy, his friend and his life. I like it becaise it has funny jokes that I get and can sometimes relate with. It also has some realistic scenes and some totally unreal scenes that are hilarious. That is why I enjoy Archie Comics so much!
Reviewed by Kate

tags: graphic novel, local, classic

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Last Ever After (The School For Good and Evil)
by Soman Chainani

The School For Good and Evil The Last Ever After by Soman Chainani is a book about two friends who live where fairy tales are idolized and loved but every 4 years a mysterious shadow kidnaps 2 children one fair and good and one unimaginably evil to go to a school for good and evil where children are trained to live through their fairy tales. Evil for villains and good for princes and princesses. Sophie a golden haired princess has been dreaming of the school for good and her very own ever after while Agatha the ugly "witch" has been wishing to just stay home with Sophie, mother and cat and is determined to save Sophie from the "school master." But there has been a "mistake." Agatha has been sent to the beautiful school for good while Sophie is thrown into the ugly school for evil. Now Sophie and Agatha are battling to find a way home through a torn apart friendship princes and fights to the death, what will become of there friends who are willing to do anything to be together again, but what if, a prince is added to the equation?
Reviewed by Kate

tags: YA, fantasy, fairy tale, adventure, romance

Summer Reading Book Review:
The BFG
By Roald Dahl

The BFG is the friendliest oddest and smallest giant imaginable. Sophie was stolen away to Giant Country at the Witching Hour where all the strange and dark things come out. Giant Country is a barren landscape where the only thing that grows are the horrible vile disgusting snozzcumbers!
Sophie must now live in the dark Giant Country until she must save the children of England with the help from the Big Friendly Giant.
Reviewed by Kate

tags: Dahl house, classic, family favorite, fantasy, humor

Summer Reading Book Review:
Charlotte's Web
By E. B. White

I give Charlotte's Web a 10 out of 10 review because it is a story of friendship, love, and kindness.
Charlotte's Web shows what true friendship is and how hard it is to find it. The main character Wilbur is a young pig who is more than a ham. He is "some pig" he is "terrific" he is "radiant" and he is "humble" but he must show Mr. Zuckerman who he is before Christmas. With the help of his spider friend Charlotte his fate is decided.
Reviewed by Kate

tags: classic, family favorite, animals, pigs, spiders, fantasy

Summer Reading Book Review:
"The Difficult Path" (Flying Lessons & Other Stories)
By Grace Lin, Edited by Ellen Oh

In the second chapter of "Flying Lessons & Other Stories" a young girl was adopted by a poor family that could do little to help her. In her new home, she has lots of siblings, one of which she absolutely hates. She learns to speak English at the age of six and is very smart. When the siblings that she hates comes of age to marry, she is devastated to hear that she might have to marry her repulsive brother. She is crushed with the bad news, when a gang of pirates comes and lets her escape if she teaches them English. She now sails the seas with her new family.
Reviewed by Emily

tags: short story, family, adoption

Summer Reading Book Review:
"How to Transform an Everyday Hoop Court Into a Place of Higher Learning and You at the Podium" (Flying Lessons & Other Stories)
By Matt de la Pena, Edited by Ellen Oh

In "Flying Lessons and Other Stories," the first story is about a young boy who dreams of being a basketball star takes on his dream and signs up to play with older kids. He things that it will be a piece of cake to join this advanced league, but he has to work through many challenges to overcome the difficult obstacles other players throw at him. In the end, he succeeds in the league and impresses all the people that ever doubted him.
Reviewed by Emily

tags: short story, sports

Summer Reading Book Review:
Sugar
By Jewel Parker Rhodes

I read a book called Sugar, which was written by Jewel Parker Rhodes. This book is about an African American girl who lives on a sugar plantation along the Mississippi River. Sugar's mother died when she was very young and Sugar doesn't remember her father, who left then when she was very young. Working on the plantation is hard work, but Sugar manages to work hard and have fun. The only problem with having fun is that the person she likes to play with is the owner's white son, who has been forbidden from seeing her. Aside from Sugar's forbidden friendship, she is making friends with the Chinese man who just moved to the plantation. I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to other kids.
Reviewed by anonymous

tags: historical fiction, African-American, slavery

Summer Reading Book Review:
Stella by Starlight
By Sharon M. Draper

I read a book called Stella by Starlight, which was written by Sharon M. Draper. This book is about an African American girl who lives in Bumblebee, North Carolina during the Depression. Stella and her family were threatened by the Ku Klux Klan after her father went to vote. Shortly thereafter, another family in the village had their house burned down by the Ku Klux Klan. I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to other kids.
Reviewed by anonymous

tags: historical fiction, segregation, siblings

Summer Reading Book Review:
Peril at the Top of the World (Treasure Hunters #4)
By James Patterson

I am doing a book review about the book Treasure Hunters: Peril at the Top of the World by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein. The book is about a family of treasure hunters that witness a robbery and have to try to get the paintings back that were stolen from the museum. There are four kids in the book their names are storm, Beck, Bick, and Tommy, they have parents that they almost lost in the first book in the series. I rate this book 9 out of 10.
Reviewed by Will

tags: series, adventure, mystery, humor, travel

Summer Reading Book Review:
Secret of the Forbidden City (Treasure Hunters #3)
By James Patterson

I am doing a book review about the book Treasure Hunters: Secret of the Forbidden City by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein. This book is about four kids that thought their dad died on a boat in a storm when he was swept out to sea but they found out that their dad is still alive. Now the kids are trying to get a very expensive vase to trade with people that have their mother captive. There are four kids in the book their names are are Storm, Bick, Beck, and Tommy. I rate this book 8 out of 10 stars.
Reviewed by Will

tags: series, adventure, mystery, humor, travel

Summer Reading Book Review:
Hey! Who Stole the Toilet (George Brown Class Clown #8)
By Nancy Krulik

Woo hoo oh boy that camping trip with the Scouts is coming up I hope that *burp* doesn't get in my way. That is the sound of George Brown in sress city. Well, on the first hand George is going with Louie, his worst enemy, but I guess he'll have to get used to it. But part of his wish didn't happeb, his burp did get him into a lot of trouble but his camp teacher would tell them ridiculous stories. Well Louie however is afraid of all sorts of bugs. But Louie mostly to earn the badge that his older brother Sam didn't get. Well that is all I can tell you about this book! This is my review on George Brown Class Clown: Hey Who Stole the Toilet.
Reviewed by Grayson

tags: humor, series, camping

Summer Reading Book Review:
Dog Man #1
By Dav Pilkey

Once upon a time there were two little first graders, their names were George and Harold. When they met they found out they had a lot in common. They loved making funny comic books and they also loved to do pranks. And one of their favorite comics when they were little was Dog Man. As time went by they were making billions of of the Dog Man comics. But when they hit 4th grade they got a new idea, he was called Captain Underpants. So they spent days in their tree house making cool comics until one day after an adventurous week they went to their tree house and the weirdest thing happened. Almost all of their comics were gone except for Dog Man. Then they found out they wanted to have a little change and that's why I have chosen to tell you...
Ever since Pete exploded Dog Man's owner he's been fighting crime unleashing his awesomeness. He has defeated Pete before but the first chapter of the book Pete was fighting with his butler over if they could use fire crackers or a ginormous vaccuum. In one point of the book their so-called mayor sent a towb criminal a seal spray so then a replacement robot could take over so Dog Man did at one point defeat them. This is my book review on Dog Man.
Reviewed by Grayson

tags: humor, comic, animals, dogs, series

Summer Reading Book Review:
Big Nate Blasts Off
By Lincoln Peirce

Ever met someone who just doesn't have a girlfriend? Well this will be a good story! Well enough chit chat, it's story time. Another stupid day until, NOOOOOOO, it's Randy! What's he going to do? Turbo Wedgie? We're going to find out but then Ruby comes around the corner and Randy sees, so he lets go of Nate then runs. But that wasn't all this book was about, the Mud Bowl was coming up and Randy's going to do with Nate. Wow, time flys when you're reading. Well, I can't tell you any more or I'll spoil the book. By for now! Learn more about the book by reading it!
Reviewed by Grayson

tags: series, humor, comics-prose

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Ice Cream King
By Steve Metzger

Mommy mommy can we please go to that ice cream shop? Have you ever had your kid go crazy about eating ice cream at the ice cream shop? If you have then this ought to be a good story so please pay attention while I flip the page. One day Teddy his mom were walking down the road when Mommy Mommy there is a new ice cream place in town can we please go please? ...Ok, Teddy. So they went in there it was his dream but there was one more thing he had to do here... mom's spoon! Oh, thank you sweety. Blah blah blah, the end.
Reviewed by Grayson

tags: picture book, food

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Secret of Wildcat Swamp
By Franklin W. Dixon

Frank and Joe are asked by a friend named Cap Bailey to go to a place called Wildcat Swamp. Cap wants them to help dig for fossils. But in the same area there are some bad people wanted by the police. TYhey are constantly trying to get Frank and Joe away. But they don't leave, and Frank and Joe discover they are hunting for oil. In the end the bad people finally get caught and put in jail.
Reviewed by Anonymous

tags: series, classic, siblings, mystery, crime, adventure

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
By C.S. Lewis

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the second book of the Chronicles of Narnia, written by C.S. Lewis. It is about 4 children; Peter, Edmund, Lucy, Susan, and Lucy. They lived during a World War and were sent to live in the middle of the country, because their town was going to be bombed.
Unexpectedly, they were sent to a huge house that had a magic wardrobe in it. One day they were playing hide and seek inside the house and the youngest of the four hid inside the wardrobe and found herself... in a land called Narnia.
I recommend this book to any reader who likes exciting adventures. When I read this book I found it to be fun (but short!).
Reviewed by John

tags: classic, series, fantasy, religious fiction

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Bridge to Neverland
By Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

The Bridge to Neverland is a high flying book that reels in the fantasy world and the real world. It tells the interesting story of to kids who happen to find an old document from their favorite series… and suddenly they're a part of it! This book is a great reason to believe things that might be too crazy.
Reviewed by Riley

tags: series, adventure, fantasy, fairy tale

Summer Reading Book Review:
Fort Solitude (Secret Hero Society #2)
by Derek Fridolfs and Dustin Nguyen

My book review is about a graphic novel called Super Hero Society: Fort Solitude. It is about Batman, Superman, and Super Girl as kids. And they went to a camp called Evergreen Adventure Camp. But there was a problem that needed to be solved. And if you like superheroes I really really recommend this book!
Reviewed by Lauren

tags: comic, superheroes, series, mystery

Summer Reading Book Review:
Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry

This book review is about a really good book called Number the Stars. It's about a girl who had a Jewish friend, and they lived during World War II. Which was when the Germans tried to kill all the Jewish people. If you love Lois Lowry I just know you will love this book! It was a lot of action. I love this book and recommend it to ages 8 and up.
Reviewed by Lauren

tags: classic, historical fiction, WW2

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Horse and His Boy
By C.S. Lewis

This is a story that C.S. Lewis created. It happens in two countries, called Narnia and Calormen. There is a boy who, with his talking horse, rans away from Calormen.
I think that, after the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, this is my second favorite Narnia book, because of the interesting battle that happens later on in the story. Whoever likes stories that have battles in it should read this book.
Reviewed by John

tags: series, classic, fantasy, religious fiction, family favorite

Summer Reading Book Review:
Hurry Up, Houdini! (Magic Tree House #50)
By Mary Pope Osborne

The characters are Jack and Annie. Jack and Annie traveled back in time to New York. While in New York, they learned how to do magic tricks from the great Houdini. I liked this book because it had a sticker in the back. Also coin stickers which were cool.
Reviewed by Jack

tags: time travel, series, magic, historical fiction, fantasy

Summer Reading Book Review:
Winter of the Ice Wizard (Magic Tree House #32)
By Mary Pope Osborne

This book is about Jack, Annie, Teddy, and Kathleen. They had to get the ice wizard eye from the frost giant. They had to go to the hollow hill and get eye. The eye was in the hailstone. The wizard got the eye out of the hailstone.
Reviewed by Jack

tags: time travel, series, magic, historical fiction, fantasy

Summer Reading Book Review:
Gotham Academy #2: Calamity
By Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher, and Karl Kerschl

My book review is about a graphic novel called Gotham Academy. It was about a girl named Olive and her mom died in a fire and came back as a demon to talk to her daughter back to hell. I recommend this book to people that like spooky stories! This book was pretty exciting!
Reviewed by Lauren

tags: comic, mystery, superheroes

Summer Reading Book Review:
The BFG
By Roald Dahl

The BFG is a book about: A girl named Sophie gets up in the middle of the night and looks out the window. In the distance she sees a man shaped shadow but extremely tall. That figure turns out being the BFG. He takes Sophie to giant country where there are nine other mean giants. BFG takes her to his cave. Later in the book they make a plan to stop the other giants. Will it work? Read more to find out.
Reviewed by Alec

tags: classic, fantasy, humor, family favorite

Summer Reading Book Review:
Heidi Heckelbeck Has a Secret
By Wanda Coven and Priscilla Burris

I kind of liked the book. But it was a little bit boring because the chapters are really short. Sometimes I am interested and get sunk into the book. I kind of don't recommend it, but then again I do!
Reviewed by Camren

tags: series, ready for chapters, realistic fiction, school

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Maze Runner
By James Dashner

I would recommend The Maze Runner. It is action packed and leaves you thirsting for more. In this book you can really feel the characters emotion and imagine what's going on. Each character is unique. It is a page turner that leaves you wanting more.
Reviewed by Elijah

tags: YA, dystopian, adventure, sci-fi

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Raft
By S.A. Bodeen

I would not recommend the book The Raft. It is not nearly as exciting as the first and second book. It is not nearly as detailed of the last two books. At first he has everything handed to him on a silver platter, There was very little excitement in his challenges.
Reviewed by Elijah

tags: YA, survival fiction, travel, Pacific Ocean, disaster

Summer Reading Book Review:
Meet the Mixels
By Shari Last

I read about Mixels. I got to learn about the Mixels. The names of the groups are the Frosticons, the Infernites, the Spikeis, the Cragsters, the Glorp Corp, the Wiztastics, the Fang Gang, the Electraids, and the Flexers. I like Zoron from the Infernites.
Reviewed by Damien

tags: Ready For Chapters, Lego

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (The Chronicles of Narnia)
By C.S. Lewis

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the fifth book of the Chronicles of Narnia, written by C.S. Lewis. It is about a king going on a voyage in the sea to find the seven lords whom is uncle Miraz sent away.
I like this book because it makes the adventure long and exciting. I think that anybody who likes voyages in a sea should read this book.
Reviewed by John

tags: classic, family favorite, series, religious fiction, fantasy

Summer Reading Book Review:
Napoleon: A Life
By Andrew Roberts

Napoloen: A Life, by Andrew Roberts, is a biography of Napoloen Bonaparte, emporor of the French and one of the greatest military commanders in history. It sheds light on the life of this great figure, from his obscure Corsican origins to his Italian and Egyptian campaigns, from his rise to power in a daring coup to his exile on St. Helena.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves history.
Reviewed by Michael

tags: nonfiction, France, history

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Last Battle (Chronicles of Narnia)
By C.S. Lewis

The Last Battle was written by C.S. Lewis and is about battle, of course, in a land called Narnia. In the book, there is a king in Narnia who is captured by a talking ape and his fellow Calormene (Calormen is an empire that hates Narnia).
In The Last Battle the Calormene lines charged the Narnians for the first time; it failed. After the second charge of the Calormen, the Narnians had to retreat. A few minutes later, the Narnian king (who escaped earlier in the book) found himself fighting the Calormene general.
I like the book because it makes the battle really exciting. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in battles.
Reviewed by John

tags: fantasy, series, classic, family favorite, religious fiction

Summer Reading Book Review:
Big Nate: Say Good-Bye to Dork City
By Lincoln Peirce

This book is about a kid named Nate who is trying to say goodbye to dork city. It's hard to do it when Marcus is against his real friends, so technically he's trying to be cooler so it's pretty hard to do that. And also because he is also bullying his half enemy because he is also his lead singer. But that doesn't mean you can't stand up for his buddy. Nate is still looking for a girlfriend :( So look for other Big Nate books!
By for now. This is my book report on Big Nate: Say Good-bye to Dork City.
Reviewed by Grayson

tags: humor, comic, realistic fiction, school

Summer Reading Book Review:
Mission Unpluckable (The Bad Guys #2)
By Aaron Blabey

5 predators are trying to be good guys, including a snake, wolf, piranha, shark, and tarantula. They think they are doing stuff that's good but it turns out the stuff they're doing isn't really appreciated. In this book they are trying to free chickens from the chicken farm. In the chicken farm if they touch the floors or walls the alarm goes off, so the tarantula hacks in and turns the alarm off. Then they climb through the vent. There are lasers in the vent that the tarantula couldn't turn off. So snake climbs through and turns them off... and they rescue the chickens.
Reviewed by Alec

tags: comics-prose, humor, animals, series, adventure

Summer Reading Book Review:
Reformed
By Justin Weinberger

Ian is not paying attention in class, he is dozing off so is teachers sent him to reform school. As soon as school got out him and his friends got there and they find out it is a school full of bullies. One pushes Ian to the ground and is very mean to him and his buddies on a big trail.
Reviewed by Damien

tags: school, realistic fiction, bullying

Summer Reading Book Review:
Treasure Hunters
By James Patterson

The book I am reading is called treasure Hunters. I just started today and am already on chapter 5, page 50! The book is about 4 children who lost thier mom in Cyprus and lost Dad on a fishing trip. The kids names are Bick, Beck, Tommy, and Storm.
One of my favorite parts of the book is the pictures because they are really detailed and I like detailed pictures. There are 70 chapters in the whole book. So far I love the book. I can't so enough how much I love the book.
The kids are also trying to find treasures by going scuba diving. The treasures they are trying to find are gold, silver, and shells. I hope they find treasures and their parents! By the way I LOVE THIS BOOK SO FAR!
Reviewed by Camren.

tags: series, adventure, mystery

Summer Reading Book Review:
Seven Dead Pirates
By Linda Bailey

This book is about a kid called Lewis, and his great grandpa died sod his parents are moving to his old house. There are bad pirate ghosts there who tell him to do bad things, but it's funny.
Reviewed by anonymous fifth grader

tags: adventure, ghost story, humor

Summer Reading Book Review:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down
By Jeff Kinney

I really liked this book and I recommend all the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. In this one I thought it was cool that Greg goes on adventures.
Reviewed by Dean

tags: series, humor, school, prose-comic

Older Book Reviews:

Great Stone Face Teaser:
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made
By Stephan Pastis

Reviewed by Mr. John - Imagine a chapter book that combines Calvin and Hobbes and Big Nate, except it's been written by someone with a weirder sense of humor, and you're pretty close to this first book in the Timmy Failure series.
Written by Stephan Pastis - the guy writes and draws the comic strip Pearls Before Swine - this book is about Timmy, his polar bear sidekick named Total, and their private detective agency. There are funny illustrations mixed into the text on every page, and the story is silly, funny, and sweet all at once. I have to admit that I sometimes found Timmy a little annoying - he doesn't really treat people very well - but overall I liked this book a lot, and thought it had a good message even though it made me laugh out loud!
tags: humor, pearls before swine, mystery, comic, polar bear

TAB Book Review:
The Obsidian Mirror
By Catherine Fisher

The Obsidian Mirror is an action-packed adventure through time and space. I felt the different elements of the story (fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, adventure) were interesting, but didn't really go well together. The story had diverse characters and an intriguing back story. This book has been nominated for 2014-2015 Isinglass Teen Read Award.
Reviewed by Robbie.
tags: science fiction, fantasy, time travel, myths

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Adventures of Captain Underpants
By Dav Pilkey

This book had a lot of comedy and excitement. captain Underpants is a superhero/principal. My favorite part was when Captain Underpants gave the bad guys a giant wedgie. I also like it when they make a giant plunger robot with laser eyes and a giant plunger with spikes.
Reviewed by Stephen.
tags: humor, action, adventure, growing up, school, friendship, early chapter book

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
By Kate DiCamillo

This story was about a china rabbit who went on a journey and discovered emotions, most of all love. He feels sadness and pity, happiness and joy, and love and understanding. And in the end he discovers what matters most is not the clothes you wear or how rich you are, but how much you love. And in the end everything turned out fine.
tags: rabbit, adventure, friendship, emotions, love

Summer Reading Book Review:
A Christmas Tale
By Geronimo Stilton

Summer Reading Book Review:
Theodore Boone: The Abduction
By John Grisham

I think this book was very good for my age. The book had a lot of Christmas spirit in it. My favorite part is at the end when they all throw a party in Geronimo's apartment. My favorite character was Trap Stilton because he always pulls pranks on Geronimo Stilton. Geronimo Stilton is a 'fraidy mouse instead of going on adventures like his sister Thea. He would read a book. He is also afraid of being hit!
Reviewed by Stephen.
tags: animals, mouse, holidays, christmas, early chapter

In my book, Theodore Boone's friend is a suspected victim in a kidnapping incident. Theo is the only one that knows an important fact about the crazy parents. The fact he knows is that neither parent was home. A distant pen pal broke out of jail and was spotted in the town where the kidnapping happened, so obviously he is a suspect. In my opinion this book is amazing!
tags: realistic fiction, mystery, suspense, high school, law

Summer Reading Book Review:
Wonder
By RJ Palacio

Summer Reading Book Review:
And Then There Were None
By Agatha Christie

A kid named August starts his first time going to school. He's entering 5th grade. He has trouble making friends. He has a harsh first day. Everyone stares at August as he walks by because of his facial appearance. August meets a girl named Summer who is the only person who will sit with him at lunch. August faces bullies and trouble throughout the book. But it has a happy ending!
Reviewed by Katherine.
tags: disabilities, friendship, realistic fiction, feel good

Review #1 - Ten people are lured to Indian Island. Eight arrive all at once, but the other two, the cook and the manservant, arrive before. They find the island deserted and an old nursery rhyme displayed. All of these people have committed a murder that the law can't prove. That night during the storm something mysterious happens... a murder! If you like the book Clue, I recommend this book to you. 194 pages, 18 chapters.
Reviewed by Elle.

Review #2 - The book I read was And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. The book was about 10 people going to Indian Island. They read a poem about how they're going to die. If you like mysteries I would recommend this book. I really enjoyed it!
Reviewed by Will.
tags: mystery, murder, classic, suspense

Summer Reading Book Review:
Fortunately, the Milk
by Neil Gaiman

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Pepins and their Problems
by Polly Horvath

The book I read was Fortunately, the Milk. I really liked this book. My favorite part is when they meet the wumpires. I also like when he meets Professor Steg. The funniest part is when the aliens try to redecorate earth. My favorite character is Professor Steg. This book is great for kids!
tags: short, humor, british, illustrations

A family has unusual problems, like frogs in shoes, a cow gives lemonade not milk, getting stuck on the roof and then trying to jump off with a cord, and having a strange man walk in and say, "I'm home at last," and then sitting down on their couch. I think you should join the Pepins and their problems!
Reviewed by Katherine.
tags: humor, family, growing up

Summer Reading Book Review:
Skateboard Save
by Jake Maddox

Summer Reading Book Review:
Valentine's Day Disaster
by Geronimo Stilton

I think this book is really good for young readers. it is about a boy that loves skateboarding and runs into some bully trouble. The book is very interesting and it happens in everyday life with everybody. I would recommend it for people in 2nd grade through 5th grade. I really liked this book and the author because they're quick reads for rainy days.
Reviewed by Ethan.
tags: sports, skateboard, skate, skating, extreme sports, short

It was funny and I would recommend this book to my friends and other other kids because it was fun to read. I love Geronimo Stilton. I'm 13 and I still love him! I think he does things that are really cool.
Reviewed by Ashlee.
tags: mouse, humor, animals, easy chapter, holidays, valentine's day

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
by JRR Tolkien

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Kingdom of Fantasy
by Geronimo Stilton

The Lord of the Rings is a fantasy novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. In the book, Frodo Baggins, a hobbit, embarks on a perilous qiest to destroy the One Ring. If the Ring is found by it's master, Sauron, the world will fall. Followed by his friends, the Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo journeys to Mount Doom, in the center of Sauron's realm. There alone can the Ring be destroyed. I recommend this book for readers 12 and up, who want an exciting way to entertain themselves.
Reviewed by Michael.
tags: fantasy, wizards, hobbits, magic, adventure, good vs. evil, epic, classic

This was a great book. It was fun to read and very cool. There were dragons, ogres, and even fairies. It was awesome, and I would recommend it to other kids. The author made it really funny, and I really like how he wrote Geronimo. I like how he was funny and scared of everything. I wish I could jump into the book and go with him!
Reviewed by Ashlee.
tags: fantasy, dragons, humor, mouse, animals

Summer reading Book review:
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
by J.K. Rowling

Summer Reading Book Review:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter is having a bad year. First he inflates his aunt, and then Sirius Black escapes from prison. And now? There are dementors, plus Harry, Hermione, and Ron have to understand the mystery, find who Lupin really is, help Buckbeak, and hope that Hermione breaks Malfoy's nose (spoiler: she does!). This Harry Potter book will make you want more!
Reviewed by Derek.
tags: fantasy, wizards, witches, magic, epic, good vs. evil, adventure, hogwarts, high school

Harry has to figure some stuff out. Hagrid has just told Harry that he is a wizard, given Dudley and pig tail, and taken Harry to Hogwart's School of Magic, where everyone is hiding a secret. The evil Lord Voldemort is looking for the Sorcerer's Stone to heal himself, and he is commanding one of the teachers. But which one? Read and find out!
Reviewed by Derek.
tags: fantasy, wizards, witches, magic, epic, good vs. evil, adventure, high school

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus #2)
by Rick Riordan

Summer Reading Book Review:
The House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus #4)
by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson is once again on a quest, but he can't remember who he is! After wandering he finds a Roman camp and is sent an a quest with Hazel and Frank, and has to juggle some things like killing two giants, getting his memory back, finding Thanatos God of Death and freeing him, and finally battling an army of monsters. Will he succeed?!
Reviewed by Derek.
tags: myths, greek mythology, adventure, fantasy

Percy Jackson has entrapped many readers before and made them wait for the next novel. In this book, Percy and Annabeth are trapped in Tartarus and are travelling to the Doors of Death while their friends Leo, Piper, Jason, Frank, Hazel, and Nico try to get to the other end of the Doors of Death to stop monsters from flooding into the modern world. Will they close the Doors of Death in time?
Reviewed by Derek.
tags: myths, greek mythology, adventure, fantasy

Summer Reading Book Review:
Geronimo Stilton, Secret Agent
by Geronimo Stilton

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Eye of Minds (Mortality Doctrine #1)
by James Dashner

This book was funny and cute. It was about when Geronimo Stilton lost an important document and he had to find it. On his journey his friends help him along the way.
Reviewed by Ashlee.
tags: humor, mouse, animals, mystery, short

My book review is on The Eye of Minds. I was interested in this book because it was about gaming. A small summary of what I've read so far is that it's about Michael and his friends Sarah and Bryson, and the VNS sent them on a mission to capture an evil gamer named Kaine, who is controlling normal gamers. So Michael, Sarah, and Bryson have to capture him using their hacking skills.
Reviewed by Thor.
tags: science fiction, technology, virtual reality, mystery, suspense

Summer Reading Book Review:
I Can't Accept Not Trying
by Michael Jordan

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Sight (Warriors: Power of Three #1)
by Erin Hunter

This is a book review on the book "I Can't Accept Not Trying." It was a really informational book on Michael Jordan. He explained his basketball career, golf career, and his baseball career. Michael also explained how he became so good at the game, and how he practiced. He also explained that fear to him is just an illusion.
Reviewed by Thor.
tags: nonfiction, basketball, sports, inspirational

This book was about Lionpaw, a golden tabby tom, Hollypaw, a black she-cat, and Jaypaw, a blind gray tabby tom. It starts with their mischievous lives as kittens, and then some of their time as apprentices. I liked this book because it draws the reader in.
Reviewed by Levi.
tags: animals, cats, action, adventure, fantasy

Summer Reading Book Review:
Tangle of Knots
by Lisa Graff

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Ability
By M.M. Vaughan

A Tangle of Knots is a good book. It is fun, mysterious, and fascinating. I liked how everybody has their own special talent. There wasn't anything that I didn't like about this book. Lisa Graff wrote this book about people and their talents, and how they all come together in the end. I would give this book 5 stars!
Reviewed by Rebecca.
tags: magic, orphans, fantasy, adventure, growing up

Chis Lane is a twelve year old boy who is forced to steal to care for himself and his mother, but his life takes a strange turn when he earns a place at a special academy. It turns out children, when they are twelve, have "the ability," a power which consists of mind reading and telekinesis. But, not all people use this power for good. Chris and his friends must stop two boys from using this power to destroy other lives, all because one woman wants revenge.
Reviewed by Kaitlyn.
tags: science fiction, fantasy, suspense, school, mind control

Summer Reading Book Review:
Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians
By Brandon Sanderson

GSF Team Book Review:
Nickel Bay Nick
by Dean Pitchford

Alcatraz Smedry is a foster child and he knows nothing about his family until his 13th birthday when he got his only inheritance: a bag of sand. A day later, Alcatraz's grandfather who he didn't know he hadcame looking for the sand only to fins it stolen by a bunch of evil librarians. So Alcatraz and his grandfather infiltrate the downtown library armed with glasses and Alcatraz's talent of breaking things.
Reviewed by Kyle.
tags: adventure, fantasy, mystery, humor

We thought that this book was pretty good! It had some mystery and action stuff that we liked, and the main character was pretty good and easy to relate to. Sometimes we didn't feel like this book wasn't super realistic, but in all we really like it, and gave it 4/5 stars!
tags: mystery, realistic fiction, christmas, family

GSF Team Book Review:
The Hypnotists
by Gordon Korman

TAB Book Review:
The Amulet series
by Kazu Kibuishi

We thought that this book was exciting from the very first word of the very first sentence. This book was a real page turner. However, we thought that the main character was a little slow on the uptake, and should have figured out the bad guy's plan earlier. In all, this book was some classic Gordon Korman adventure, and we gave it 5/5 stars!
The sequel, "Memory Maze," is out now!
tags: science fiction, fantasy, suspense

The Amulet series is so good! It's got magic, dark magic, and there's lots of cool mysteries and stuff. I was so excited when the 6th book came out this fall!
Reviewed by Mark.
tags: fantasy, adventure, magic, family, animals, comic

GSF Team Book Review:
Mountain Dog
by Margarita Engle

GSF Team Book Review:
Wake Up Missing
by Kate Messner

We were a little confused at first by the alternating narrators, but it was fine once we got used to it. We really liked the character of Gabe, because he's a dog and who doesn't like dogs?! However, we didn't like that it just sort of ended after a bunch of things happened all at once in the last chapter. Overall though, we really liked it, and we hope that Margarita Engle is working on a sequel! We give this book 4.5/5 stars! If you like this review you should come read this book at the Meredith Library!
tags: animals, dogs, realistic fiction, uplifting, nature, family

This was a page turner! We really liked all the different characters, and the super detailed settings it had. The characters seemed very realistic and had a lot of personality. There was nothing we didn't like about this book! Hands down 5/5 stars!
tags: suspense, mystery, medicine, realistic fiction

GSF Team Book Review:
Rooftoppers
by Katherine Rundell

Summer Reading Book Review:
Dash
by Kirby Larson

This was a beautifully written book, and probably Mr. John's favorite GSF book so far. It felt like a dream somehow. While we only meet a handful of characters, they really come to life, and they're so quirky and original that you really wind up rooting for them. And the ending! We were scrambling to turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen. 5/5 stars, a must read!
tags: family, adventure, music, europe, realistic fiction, growing up

**Spoilers Below** This book was about a Japanese girl Mitsi Kashino in the time of Pearl Harbor. Mitsi has a dog named Dash. She has to go to an incarceration camp because she was Japanese. But the rule was there was no pets allowed, and that leaves Mitsi heartbroken because she doesn't know how long she'll be gone for. So about a couple weeks later they have to go to another incarceration camp that's even farther from Dash. They take a train for 3 days straight and end up in the desert. So they get off the train and go into the camp. About a week later the general finally said that pets were allowed and then Dash came to the camp and Mitsi was REALLY happy. And that was the end of the book. This book is a Great Stone Face nominee this year.
By Meghan
tags: historical fiction, world war 2, animals, dogs

Summer Reading Book Review:
Below the Surface
by Tim Shoemaker

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Prisoner in Cell 25 (Michael Vey #1)
by Richard Paul Evans

**Spoilers Below** I read a book called Below the Surface. It's the last book in the Code of Silence series. It's about four kids: Cooper, Gordy, Lunk, and Hiro. They are trying to take a vacation when one night they witnessed a fight on a boat called Kyproto Night. They they heard a splash and a scream. Then the boat began to drive around in circles. After that Hiro calls the police. The police came and talked to the driver. Then the girl who "fell in the water" came walking up the beach. Hiro didn't think it was the same girl that was in the boat. Cooper, Gordy, and Lunk didn't believe her either. So after that they are riding on their bikes when a car comes and smashes Cooper into some rocks! After that they realize that they're being stalked, and the person who's stalking them is Joseph Stein (who was in book 1). He tries to kill Hiro but it failed. He got sent behind bars. And Hiro was right about the girl who fell in the water, who did drown! Then the driver got sent to prison.
By Meghan
tags: mystery, suspense, murder, friends

Michael is a boy who moves around a ton, he lives with his mom, and is ELECTRIC! He and his friend Ostin find he's not alone in the world because there are 17 electric humans. He makes friends with Taylor and finds she's electric too, but she gets kidnapped. Can he save the world and his friends? This is a good book that is my favorite in my collection. I highly recommend it.
By Derek
tags: science fiction, action, adventure, teens superpowers

Summer Reading Book Review:
Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice #1)
By John Flanagan

Summer Reading Book Review:
Fudge, Super Fudge
By Judy Blume

Will, a scrawny orphan boy, is rejected by every one of the taskmasters in Redmont except one: Halt. he is plunged into an adventure which has him making friends with an enemy, training to be a ranger, and finally saving halt from a monster. This is a good book that is one of my favorites.
By Derek
tags: fantasy, action, adventure, friends

Book 1: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. This book is about Peter Hatcher and how he has to live with his little brother Farley Drexel Hatcher, also known as Fudge. Fudge is really mischievous and causes a lot of problems for big brother Peter. I like this book because it is very funny and teaches you that not everything in life goes your way.
Reviewed by Mackenzie.
tags: realistic fiction, humor, growing up, siblings

TAB Review:
When the Butterflies Came
By Kimberly Griffiths Little

Everyone thinks Tara has the perfect life. But when her grandmother dies in a car crash, Tara's life begins to fall apart. It's up to Tara to follow a trail of mysterious clues to piece her life back together. I thought the action was a bit slow, but it was overall a good book! Reviewed by Ava.
tags: mystery, grief, family, uplifting

TAB Book Review:
Allegiant
By Veronica Roth

**minor spoilers ahead** This was a very well-written book, but it was very depressing because the author kept killing people off. She did a great job of making you fall in love with the characters, but that only made the ending more difficult. Sometimes the plot got a little confusing and I had to re-read it a couple times. The author also used a lot of tough vocab words, so I sometimes had to stop and look things up. This is the third book in the Divergent series, and I have to say that if you've only read the first book that you should just stop reading, because they'll only depress you!
Reviewed by Sarah.
tags: dystopian, action, adventure, science fiction, love triangle

The Librarian Recommends:
Fangbone: Third Grade Barbarian
by Michael Rex

I absolutely loved this graphic novel. The first in the series, it tells the story of how Fangbone travels through a magical passageway and into our world. He's on a mission to defend the Big Toe of Drool the Sorcerer in order to prevent the sorcerer from coming back to life. Full of lots of funny lines and cool action, I definitely recommend this series to anyone who likes action, stories about fitting in, and people who like their humor a little bit gross.
tags: humor, comic, fantasy, school, action

The Librarian Recommends:
Delirium
by Lauren Oliver

Reviewed by Mrs. The Librarian - Delirium is a forbidden love story in a dystopian society that
believes love is the most dangerous disease and requires all members to receive a "cure" in the form of a lobotomy at age 18. The main character, Lena, has spent most of her life looking forward to the cure. Her mother committed suicide when Lena was very young due to"the disease" and Lena is anxious to avoid her mother's fate. Then Alex comes into her life. He is part of the rebel movement that exists outside of the fences surrounding the cured cities. He soon "infects" Lena with love, and they have just one summer to spend together before she is scheduled to receive the cure. Simultaneously, Lena is beginning to deal with the knowledge that she will lose her
best friend, who she has little in common with, once the irrational part of her brain in charge of love is removed.

This book stands apart from the rest of the teenage dystopian drama because of how well
written it is. Lauren Oliver sets a beautiful scene, and her characters are dynamic and real. The book stands on its own as a wonderful love story, but it is also the start of a trilogy that turns dramatic and dangerous in the later two book.
tags: dystopian, romance, adventure, friends, action

TAB Review:
Epic by Conor Kostick

This is a very good science fiction book. The main character, Erik, lives in a changed world after a nuclear war. The government bans many things, including all violence, and all conflicts - along with the economy - are decided by your avatars performance in a video game called Epic.
Erik lives in a poor district, and his last avatar just died so he needs to make a new one. When he does, he adds unusual and usually unused characteristics, and discovers a way to cheat the game! Eric and his team become very rich after using his finding, and then they use their new knowledge to try and destroy Central Allocations, which is a powerful group of nine individuals that controls all of the world's resources and funds the most powerful characters in the game world. This novel is an amazing story about bravery and never giving up! Reviewed by Robbie.
tags: science fiction, dystopian, friends, action, adventure

The Librarian Recommends:
Star Wars - Infinities

What if Luke's torpedo had malfunctioned at the end of A New Hope, and the first Death Star was never destroyed? Or what if Han's Tauntaun had died before he reached Luke at the beginning of The Empire Strikes Back, and Luke had died on the frozen world of Hoth? Or what if Leia's thermal detonator had gone off at the beginning of Return of the Jedi, and they weren't able to rescue Han from Jabba the Hutt?
Change one little thing, and the ripple of effect can re-shape the entire story of Star Wars. This graphic novel collects three stories, each one retelling one of the original movies with one small detail changed. I really enjoyed all three, even if the second one ends really abruptly. The art was a bit hit-or-miss, but overall it was pretty good. I highly recommend this interesting take on the Star Wars universe!
tags: science fiction, action, adventure, sith, jedi, space

SR Book Review:
Brave
The Novelization of the Movie

This book is about an Irish princess girl and she turns her mom into a bear! She has to get her back to mom form before it has been 24 hours or she won't turn back! Can she do it? You'll have to read the book to find out! (or watch the movie!) Reviewed by Kaelyn

SR Book Review:
How to Twist a Dragon's Tale
By Cressida Cowell

**Contains Spoilers** This book is about a Hiccup having to to stop a volcano from exploding! One part of this book is sad because his Mom dies. Another thing that happened was that Hiccup's bodyguard was trying to kill him, but Hiccup didn't know it, so what Hiccup was going to fight Snoutlout the bodyguard gave Snoutlout a real ax! I like this book!
tags: fantasy, humor, adventure, dragons, norse mythology

SR Book Review:
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

**Contains Spoilers** This is one of the books in the series, "The Chronicles of Narnia." It tells a story about four siblings who find a magical wardrobe that leads them into a land called "Narnia." One thing that happened was that Edmund was tricked by the White Witch. She told him she was going to make him a prince in Narnia, but she was really trying to capture him. This was a really good book.
tags: fantasy, good vs. evil, family, adventure, magic

SR Book Review:
Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy
by Tui T. Sutherland

I read Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland. It's about 5 Dragonets (young dragons) who are destined to end a big war against all the dragons. The main characters names are: Clay, Sunny, Glory, Tsunami, and Starflight. I really liked the book because of all the adventure, humor, and fantasy! Reviewed by Kyle
tags: fantasy, dragons, adventure

SR Book Review:
Babymouse: Our Hero
by Jennifer L. Holm

I thought it was a great comic book. It is my 2nd favorite book. I think Babymouse is really funny.

This title is the second of 18 books in the series.

SR Book Review:
Dragonbreath: Lair of the Bat Monster by Ursula Vernon

**contains spoilers** The first part of this book was about Danny going to see his cousin. Danny and his best friend Wendell have a bat that was stuck in the pool. They brought it to his cousin, and after he looked at it he said it was a "Big Brown Bat," they went to see some other bats. When they saw them coming out of the cave, all of a sudden they saw them go right back in. They heard a noise and Danny's cousin thought it was a logger. But Danny and Wendell didn't think it was a logger. It was actually a giant bat monster named Comotazotz! It grabbed Danny and brought him into the cave. Wendell had to go in to save him. After he saved him they went back home and their mother asked them how their day was. They said it was "fine." After that, they let the bat go in the dark of the night. It was a great story! Reviewed by Elijah.

SR Book Review:
Henry and the Paper Route
by Beverly Cleary

Henry Huggins cannot wait until he is eleven years old. Then he can have his own paper route. As soon as he turns eleven, he goes to apply for the job. He gets there and is very disappointed. The job is already taken, by a new boy in town named Murph. Henry finds out that Murph only has the job so he can earn money to buy parts for his robot. A little girl named Ramona is very interested in Murph. Murph’s first try at his job is a disaster. Ramona is driving him crazy. She has a very stubborn personality. They end up in a fight. Murph is very embarrassed and quits his job. Henry finally gets his paper route. In conclusion, I really like this book because there is a lot of humor in it. The author Beverly Cleary is famous for the books she writes. Her books are very interesting and funny. I recommend this book to people who like to laugh out loud. Reviewed by Elle.

TAB Review
Chosen by Ted Dekker

13 years ago the Roush, white bats, created man. Then the Shataiket, evil black bats, created disease that turned people into monsters when they are in the desert. So the white bats created lakes in the middle of the forest that could save the people from the disease. Eventually, the people forgot about the bats, and were no longer able to see them. Except for Johnis. Johnis finds out that the black bats are planning to find the very powerful Books of History in order to destroy the world. So he sets out to find the books himself, along with three friends and a bat that knows karate! Reviewed by Clara.

Chosen is the first book in the Lost Books series.

TAB Quick Picks

This is a list of popular books, and our ratings out of 10 possible points.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
-9/10
-12.5/10
-8.5/10
-9/10
-9/10

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
-8.5/10
-10/10
-8.5/10
-7/10
-15.6/10
-8.5/10

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
-7/10
-8/10
-100,000,000/10
-6/10
-6/10
-8.5/10

Bonus Quick Pick
Hugo (movie)
-10/10
-4/10
-10/10
-8.5/10
-9/10

TAB Television Review:
Once Upon a Time

I really like this show because it's very exciting. My favorite part is when they switch between the real world and the fantastical world. I don't like how they always end the season with a huge cliffhanger, because it's so suspenseful! Reviewed by Catie.

Once Upon a Time will return to ABC in the fall.

The Librarian Recommends:
The Death and Return of Superman

Almost 20 years ago, the impossible happened: Superman was killed. But in his place 4 new mysterious Supermen rose, and remained in his place until the true Man of Steel returned. This library has long owned "The Return of Superman," which collects the story of his rise from the dead, but we recently added a new omnibus that collects his death, funeral, and return in one massive, shiny tome. And I have to say, it's a beautiful piece of graphic art.
I highly recommend this book, and truly believe that it is the finest Superman story I've ever read, and one of the most important comics ever.

TTBC Review
Swindle

Even though we liked all the different types of characters, and thought the way they planned their heist was cool, we generally thought that this book was kind of boring. It could even be called the vanilla ice cream of books. No twists, no surprises. Dull.

3.5 out of 6 thumbs up.

Tab Review
One For the Murphy's

After Carly and her mother are attacked by her new step-father, Carly gets sent to a foster home known as "The Murphy Home." At first, Carly thinks that the Murphy's are too good for her, but once she bonds with the family she gets so attached that she has a hard time letting go when her real mother is ready to take her home again. Reviewed by Grace.

TAB Review
Sun Trail by Erin Hunter

I'm only halfway through this book, but I already give it 5 stars! This is the first book in the newest Warriors series (Dawn of the Clans), and it takes place before the other books. It is a look back at how the clans got started. The 2 main characters travel from the mountains to the forest, despite the fact that they disagree with each other about it. Reviewed by Clara.

LIBRARIAN'S DISCLAIMER: Despite the cute cats on the covers, this series can be surprisingly violent and bloody.

TAB Review
Saving Sky by Diane Stanley

This was a very serious book about what would happen if 9/11 was just the beginning of lots of attacks on America. A girl named Sky has to try and live a normal life during the 10 year war that changes the whole country. She can't even take a shower! I give it 4 out of 5 stars!
Reviewed by Sarah Seeley.

Saving Sky was a 2012-2013 Great Stone Face nominee.

The Librarian Recommends:
Scott Pilgrim

I'm a huge fan of the movie that they made based on this series, so I wanted to finally read the source material. And I have to say, I was not disappointed! These books have a great sense of humor, are filled with all sorts of video game-type references, and tons of action. There is some kissing and a touch of blood, so I would recommend this series for kids 12+. My only complaint is that some things that happened weren't really explained at all, but it wasn't enough to detract from the story. Overall, I really liked these books, and I give the series 4 out of 5 stars!

The Librarian Recommends:
Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel by Eion Colfer

I have to admit that I haven't read the novels that this comic is based on, but I know that they're quite popular, so I thought that this would be a good way to see what all the fuss was about. On the one hand, I enjoyed the art, and the story left me wanting to read the original books. But on the other hand, the reason that I want to read the books is that I feel like too much content was cut out of the novels, and the comic felt shallow and incomplete. Overall, I did enjoy the story of this 12 year-old criminal genius and his staff as they combat an underground organization of faeries, dwarves, and other supernatural creatures. I was particularly impressed by the way they managed to develop the main character a little bit, and give some depth to his relationships. But all this seemed too little too late, and the comic left me with too many questions to be satisfied. I would recommend this book to fans of the original novels, as well as anyone who wants a fun, if short, adventure full of gadgets, faeries, and one particularly nasty troll.

The Librarian Recommends:
Dying to Meet You by Kate Klise

I picked up this book, the first in the 43 Old Cemetery Road series, after my Teen Advisory Board absolutely insisted that I needed to read it. I wasn't expecting much, but as soon as I opened it I knew I was in for a treat. Written as a series of notes, letters, and newspaper articles, the book nerd in me was immediately in love with Kate Klise. I've never read a book written in this style, and it worked so well with the themes that I can't imagine this story being written any other way. I recommend this book to anybody who likes reading, writing, and drawing, as well as the fans of the supernatural. I will be making a point to finish this series as soon as I possibly can!

TAB Movie Review - 42
reviewed by Sarah Seeley

I recommend this movie as a fun way to become educated in baseball while learning about the history and struggles of racism. It was very realistic, and the family of the real Jackie Robinson had to approve it first. I admired Jackie's strength and bravery while pursuing his dream!

Want to learn more about Jackie Robinson? Click the button below to search our catalog for everything Jackie!

Jackie Robinson

TAB Music Review - "Thrift Shop" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

I love this song because it’s funny and outrageous. It does involve a few colorful words, so don’t let your parents hear it. (jk!) This is the only song by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis that I know, but it’s super catchy, so I really like it!

“Thrift Shop” appears on the album The Heist.

TAB Book Review - The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

This was a short and sweet read. It went by fast, and the ending was very predictable. However, the author’s description of the setting made it feel like you were really there!

Also by this author:

Because of Winn-Dixie
The Tale of Despereaux
The Mercy Watson series

TTBC Book Review:
The London Eye Mystery
by Siobhan Dowd

This book was a good mystery with a little bit of humor here and there. The main character was very weird, which we thought made it hard to relate to him. We did like how the author described the London scenery, it was very cool. We thought this was a fun book, and several of us found ourselves reading this book out loud and pretending we had British accents! Overall, we enjoyed the story and the setting, and even though the characters weren't our favorites, we still give this book an average of 4.25 stars out of 5!
tags: mystery, realistic fiction, disabilities

TAB Book Review:
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
By JK Rowling

I loved this book! If you haven't read any Harry Potter, this is the 3rd book in the series. There are some interesting new characters, and it's action packed. Plus it has some comedy, too. I liked this book so much that I couldn't put it down until I'd finished every last word! It gets 10 stars!
Reviewed by Clara.
tags: fantasy, wizards, witches, magic, epic, good vs. evil, adventure, high school

TTBC Book Review:
Do you Know The Monkey Man?
By Dori Hillestad Butler

We had mixed feelings about this book. We liked the mystery at the beginning, and how Sam tried to solve it, and we liked how the book ended. But, we thought it was reckless when she and her friend ran away and snuck into the city by themselves. We were't sure that this was realistic. We would probably recommend this book to our friends, especially to someone whose parents are separated, because it deals with some tough issues and emotions that they would relate to.
Overall we give this book 3 out of 5 stars.
tags: realistic fiction, family, suspense, mystery

TTBC Book Review:
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Most of us really liked this book a lot. We liked how creative everything was: the world, the characters, the machines, everything. We also liked how it tied into the actual history of WWI, and it gave us a chance to learn a little history. Our only problem was that sometimes the action slowed down and it got a little boring, but overall we really liked it! We give it an average of 4.75 out of 5 stars!

TAB Review:
Trial by Journal by Kate Klise

This book is good. It's about a girl who is twelve and she is a member of the jury in the Bob White case. The girl's name is Lily, and she is friends with the victim (Perry Keet). Lily goes on an adventure to see if Bob White is guilty. This book was written by Kate Klise, who also wrote the 43 Old Cemetery Road series. Reviewed by Kayla.
tags: realistic fiction, mystery, growing up, humor

The Librarian Recommends:
Star Wars - Purge

Covering the time between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, this book graphic novel collects four tales about Darth Vader hunting down the Jedi who escaped the implementation of Order 66.
I really enjoyed all four stories, in part because they showed Vader sometimes struggling in his transition from Anakin Skywalker to the fearsome Sith Lord that he eventually becomes. He makes mistakes, gets beat up, and even gets punished by the emperor at one point. This gave the character lots of depth, and gives you a look at the man behind the mask.
I also really thought art was great throughtout this book, especially in the third story, titled "A Hidden Blade."
Overall, I highly recommend this title. There is some sci-fi violence, and lots of people die, but this is pretty standard Star Wars stuff, so I still think it's suitable for Star Wars fans ages 10 and up!
tags: science fiction, action, adventure, sith, jedi

The Librarian Recommends:
Star Wars Omnibus - Clone Wars Volume 1

Wow, what a book! This collection of Clone Wars comics covers the action of the Clone Wars that isn't shown in the movies, and introduces a bunch of really interesting characters. It is full of great action, suspense, and intrigue. The art is consistently great, and the writing is superb.
This book is, however, very violent. Many characters die, and the pages can be a little explicit. Not much blood, if any, but this book is not for younger Star Wars fans, that's for sure. I would recommend this title to Star Wars fans 13+.
tags: science fiction, action, adventure, sith, jedi

SR Book Review:
Monument 14
By Emmy Raybourne

Fourteen kids, from both high school and grammar school, are in a fight to survive during the apocalypse. They are stranded in a local super store and must band together if they have any hope to survive. A mega-tsunami hits the east coast of the United States, and wipes everything out. This triggers a chain of strange and damaging weather throughout the rest of the country, and causes a chemical spil in Momument, Colorado. The spill releases a compound that attacks people based on their blood type: Type O goes deranged and violent with bloodlust, Type AB starts to hallucinate extremely, Type A develops deadly blisters that ooze blood, and Type be only become infertile. These fourteen kids are faced with Armageddon, and are expected to survive in this thrilling book by Emmy Raybourne! Reviewed by Izaiah.
tags: adventure, action, apocalypse, survival, teens

SR Book Review:
Sea of Monsters
By Rick Riordan

This book is a little bit funny but a little bit scary! I liked it because it had some fun parts, like when Percy has a dodgeball fight with the monsters! This book is #2 in the series, and I think you should read them in order. This book's also going to be a movie soon! Reviewed by Kaelyn.
tags: adventure, action, greek mythology

SR Book Review:
My Life as a Stuntboy
By Janet Tashjian

This book is great! It has suspense but it also has humor! You would like it probably if you're going into 4th or 5th grade. I loved the part when the main character Derek Fallon first finds out he's going to be a stunt boy! I overall lovelovelove this book! Reviewed by Kaelyn.
tags: humor, realistic fiction, movies

SR Book Review:
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

The City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare, is about a girl named Clary Fray, who is perfectly normal until she sees three teenages murder someone. The odd thing is that no one but Clary can see them. Soon Clary's life is changed, her mother is captured and Clary is brought to a place called The Insitute, where she must learn about what seems like a different world, find her own past, and save her mother. I enjoyed the amount of adventure in this book, and how it keeps you interested and well informed about the world that Clary lives in. Reviewed by Kaitlyn.
tags: science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, demons, horror, adventure

SR Book Review:
Big Nate: Here Goes Nothing by Lincoln Peirce

**contains spoilers** The two main things that happen in this book are the school getting mold and Big Nate and his friends winning the soccer game. My favorite part is when the school has "prank day." It was hilarious. The school has "prank day" every year, but the principal didn't want to have it this year, so he posted a "bogus cop" outside the school. Nate asked him a few questions and the one that got him busted was, "What's you badge number?" Big Nate was a "Natetastic" book. Reviewed by Elijah.

SR Book Review:
Nectar in a Sieve
By Kamala Markandaya

Rukmani, an old woman, reflects on her life. The educated daughter of a village headman fallen on hard times, Rukmani is married at the age of twelve to Nathan, a tenant farmer. Nathan treats her with kindness and respect as she learns the chores her new life requires. Within a year they have a beautiful daughter, Ira, and good rice harvests. During the next six years, Rukmani does not conceive. Troubled that she cannot produce a son for Nathan, Rukmani visits her ill mother and there meets Kenny, a foreign doctor. He treats her infertility without Nathan's knowledge. In quick succession, Nathan bears five sons. With each birth, however, the family as a little less to eat. When a tannery is built nearby, unpleasant changes come to village life. Rukmani's two oldest sons eventually go to work there. They help the family a great deal with their wages but are eventually dismissed for being ringleaders in a labor strike. There are only a few of the conflicts poor Rukmani and her family must deal with in her small, but rapidly growing village. Reviewed by Izaiha.

SR Book Review:
Princess Academy
by Shannon Hale

In this book, Miri, a little village girl, goes to an academy with about 20 other girls from her village. The purpose of the academy is to train girls to be princesses so the prince can choose his wife. At the academy, Miri hates the teacher and her unfair punishents. The girls want to return to their quaint village but they can’t. They come up with plans to escape, And along the way, Miri makes some new and unexpected friendships. Read more of the book to see what happens, and who the prince chooses! Reviewed by Alex.

TTBC Review for July
Ender's Game by Orson Scott card

**CONTAINS SPOILERS** Overall, we didn't really like this book. It was too sad, and we felt bad for Ender. He didn't get to be a kid, and that's sad. We also thought that the book was very violent, and didn't agree with the humans destroying the buggers. We wouldn't recommend it because it's scary, and unlike books like Harry Potter, there isn't enough good stuff to make up for it. We only give it 1.5 stars our of 4.

TAB Television Favorites
The Regular Show and Spongebob Squarepants

Spongebob Squarepants is a show about a sea sponge that lives in a pineapple. Sounds great, right? If I had to rate it out of 10, I would give it a 15!

I love Regular Show. It has hilarious jokes, engaging plots, and outrageous characters!

TAB Review:
Delirium by Lauren Oliver

I just started this book, but I am already in love with it.
In the USA, love is banned. When you turn 18 you have to receive a "cure" before you're "infected" by love. Lena has always believed that love was a disease, until she met a boy who actually believes in love. She has no idea what to do now. Reviewed by Clara.

Delirium is a great book that The Librarian recommends to fans of dystopian fiction with romantic entanglements like the Hunger Games, the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, and Ally Condie's Matched Trilogy.

The Librarian Rents a DVD:
Warm Bodies

Reviewed by Mrs. The Librarian - I had high expectations for Warm Bodies after seeing the first trailer, because I thought that a zombie rom-com was certainly a fresh, if rather silly, premise. And indeed, the movie delivered, due in no small part to the fact that it didn't take itself too seriously.

It is narrated by zombie R's very witty internal dialogue, and blends humor and the apocalypse with great success. Despite the dark premise (R meets his love interest Julie after eating her boyfriend's brain) the movie manages to maintain its light tone throughout tense moments. And while I don't think I'll be adjusting my zombie contingency plan to "find a zombie to fall in love with me, save humanity," it makes for a really enjoyable movie.

Warm Bodies is based on a book of the same title by Isaac Marion. The book is also enjoyable, although it takes itself a bit more seriously and therefore struggles to set a consistent tone. While I almost always enjoy books more than their movie adaptations, this is one instance where the movie is more successful. However, the book is
certainly still worth a read!

The Librarian Goes to the Movies:
Star Trek: Into Darkness

As a huge Star Trek nerd, I was super excited to finally see this movie, and I was not disappointed at all. Although the opening scene wasn't as powerful as the last movie, I thought that the overall film was just as good, if not better. The highlight for me was the villain, whose name I won't spoil for you, who was played masterfully by Benedict Cumberbatch. He was creepy, powerful, and awesome all at once. I highly recommend this movie to everyone, not just fans of action, sci-fi, or Star Trek. It was so good that I'm still humming the theme song 2 days later!

Star Trek: Into Darkness is in theaters now, and is rated PG-13 for intense scenes of sci-fi action and violence.

TAB Review
The Unwanteds

This book is awesome, I could not stop reading. This story is a magical fantasy about kids who learn to be creative after escaping from a society where creativity is not allowed. The characters have distinctly different personalities and I could definitely relate to all of them. I will always remember this book! Reviewed by Robbie.

The Librarian recommends this book for fans of both Harry Potter and the Hunger Games, as it contains themes from both.

TAB Review
Rise of the Evening Star

Kendra and Seth's grandparents live on a magic preserve called Fablehaven. The society of the Evening Star is trying to take it over in order to release the evil spirits that live there. And when their grandparents get locked in a dungeon, evil imps are running free in the house, and deamon is hunting them down, what can Kendra and Seth do to save the day? Reviewed by Clara.

This book is the second in the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull.

TAB Review
Eight Keys by Suzanne Lafleur

A girl finds a mysterious key that opens a door in her barn that's always been locked. The key turns out to be an elaborate gift from her father who died of cancer. I liked this book, but I only gave it 3 out of 5 stars, because it was less of a mystery than the back cover said, and more about her relationships with her friends and at school.
Reviewed by Ava.

TAB Review:
So B. It by Sarah Weeks

This was an interesting book. It’s about a 12 year old girl named Heidi who is very lucky. She lives with her mentally ill mom and her next door neighbor who takes care of them. Over all I think it was a good book! Reviewed by Rio Vazquez-Billin.

So B. It is a heart-warming story about overcoming the odds to find out who you really are, and was a Parents Choice award winner in 2004.

The Librarian Goes to the Movies:
The Great Gatsby

Adapted from the classic American novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, this movie was brought to the big screen by Baz Luhrmann, who also directed Romeo and Juliet and Moulin Rouge. If you've seen those other movies, then you have a good idea of what to expect. This film of full of bright colors, tons of music, and some weird special effects.
The highlight of the movie for me was the scene in which we see Gatsby for the first time, but I thought the second half of the movie was too slow-moving. Overall, I enjoyed this movie, and although it wasn't perfect, it had enough great moments that I think it's worth seeing, whether you've read the book or not!
The Great Gatsby is in theaters now, and it is rated PG-13 for some violent images, sexual content, smoking, partying, and brief language.

Teen/Tween Book Club Review:
Amulet bk 1: The Stonekeeper

2.5 out of 6 Thumbs Up.

Even though the opening scene really draws you in, and there’s a lot of action, this book got confusing sometimes. The story was also predictable, and you could guess what would happen next. We did like the art style, although sometimes it seemed to childish, especially compared to the serious story.

This is the first book in a series. There are currently 5 books in the series, with book 6 coming out in September.

The Librarian Recommends:
Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel

I have to say that I really enjoyed this graphic novel, and I would highly recommend it for readers 10-16. Particularly those who enjoy slightly spooky supernatural fiction (such as The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman), will enjoy TenNapel's weird version of the afterlife. This adventure follows a boy named Garth who is accidentally sent to the afterlife before his time, and a "washed up ghost wrangler" named Frank Gallows who tries to bring him back. I really the plethora of fun action scenes, because TenNapel's art really has a chance to shine. In fact, on several occasions the story goes on for pages with little to no text, relying solely on the illustrations to move the story along. This does make for a short read (I got through it in about an hour), but the world the author creates feels huge, and the fun story of heroics and redemption make it totally worth a read!

TAB Movie Review - The Croods

I thought this movie was boring, although it had some funny parts that I liked. I think younger kids might like it. It had some gross parts that kids will like, like when they ate a bunch of slimy stuff. Overall, the root beer I drank was the best part of the movie.

The Croods is in theaters now, and is rated PG for some scary action.

TAB Book Review - Zip by Ellie Rollins

This was one of those “outside the box” reads. I thought it was interesting and imaginative. There were a lot of different characters and scenes, making each chapter unique. In all, it was very good, and I would recommend it to those who like adventure with a little bit of fantasy.

Author Spotlight: John Green

John Green

Beginning with his breakout first novel Looking for Alaska in 2005, John Green has been at the forefront of youth literature for nearly a decade now. Although published when John was only 28, Alaska won the American Library Associations Michael J. Printz award for teen literature, and John has not looked back since. He was once again nominated for the Printz award for his 2006 book, An Abundance of Katherines, before collaborating with fellow YA juggernauts Lauren Myracle and Maureen Johnson for the 2007 collection of intertconnected short stories Let It Snow. He published his third novel, Paper Towns, in 2008, before collaborating on the book Will Grayson, Will Grayson with fellow YA writer and friend David Levithan. Most recently, John published the novel The Fault in Our Stars in 2012, which quickly became one of the most publicly hyped and critically acclaimed YA novels in years. John's writing style is primarily very gritty and realistic, and he is known for his ability to write books that resonate with a younger audience without having to talk down to his readers. He is one of the most talented writers working right now, and we highly recommend anything he's written!

Book ReviewsTo search page use ctrl+f, enter search term, and hit enter!​​

Summer Reading Book Review:Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia #2)​ By C. S. Lewis

Summer Reading Book Review:My Life in Pink and Green By Lisa Greenwald

Summer Reading Book Review:Stuart Little By E. B. White

Summer Reading Book Review:Talons of Power (Wings of Fire #9) By Tui Sutherland

Summer Reading Book Review:Awkward By Svetlana Chmakova

Summer Reading Book Review:Matilda​ By Roald Dahl

Summer Reading Book Review:Ghosts By Raina Telgemeier

Summer Reading Book Review:Winter Turning (Wings of Fire #7)​ By Tui Sutherland

Summer Reading Book Review:Moon Rising (Wings of Fire #6) By Tui Sutherland

Summer Reading Book Review:The Bridge to Never Land By Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Summer Reading Book Review:Tunnels By Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams

Summer Reading Book Review:Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone By J.K. Rowling

Summer Reading Book Review:Eyewitness: Battle By Richard Holmes

Summer Reading Book Review:The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles #1)​ By Rick Riordan

Summer reading Book Review:A Long Walk to Water (part 2)​ By Linda Sue Park

Summer Reading Book Review:A Long Walk to Water (part 1) By Linda Sue Park

Summer Reading Book Review:The Magician's Nephew​ By C.S. Lewis

Summer Reading Book Review:​Misty of Chincoteague By Marguerite Henry

Summer Reading Book Review:Paris For Two By Phoebe Stone

Summer Reading Book Review:Smile! By Raina Telgemeier

Summer Reading Book Review:Ready Player One​ By Ernest Cline

Summer Reading Book Review:Sisters By Raina Telgemeier

Summer Reading Book Review:Archie comics By Bob Montana

Summer Reading Book Review:The Last Ever After (The School For Good and Evil) by Soman Chainani

Summer Reading Book Review:The BFG By Roald Dahl

Summer Reading Book Review:Charlotte's Web By E. B. White

Summer Reading Book Review:"The Difficult Path" (Flying Lessons & Other Stories) By Grace Lin, Edited by Ellen Oh

Summer Reading Book Review:"How to Transform an Everyday Hoop Court Into a Place of Higher Learning and You at the Podium" (Flying Lessons & Other Stories) By Matt de la Pena, Edited by Ellen Oh

Summer Reading Book Review:Sugar By Jewel Parker Rhodes

Summer Reading Book Review:Stella by Starlight​ By Sharon M. Draper

Summer Reading Book Review:Peril at the Top of the World (Treasure Hunters #4) By James Patterson

Summer Reading Book Review:Secret of the Forbidden City (Treasure Hunters #3) By James Patterson

Summer Reading Book Review:Hey! Who Stole the Toilet (George Brown Class Clown #8) By Nancy Krulik

Summer Reading Book Review:Dog Man #1 By Dav Pilkey

Summer Reading Book Review:Big Nate Blasts Off By Lincoln Peirce

Summer Reading Book Review:The Ice Cream King By Steve Metzger

Summer Reading Book Review:The Secret of Wildcat Swamp By Franklin W. Dixon

Summer Reading Book Review:The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe By C.S. Lewis

Summer Reading Book Review:The Bridge to Neverland​ By Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Summer Reading Book Review:Fort Solitude (Secret Hero Society #2) by Derek Fridolfs and Dustin Nguyen

Summer Reading Book Review:Number the Stars​ By Lois Lowry

Summer Reading Book Review:The Horse and His Boy By C.S. Lewis

Summer Reading Book Review:Hurry Up, Houdini! (Magic Tree House #50) By Mary Pope Osborne

Summer Reading Book Review:Winter of the Ice Wizard (Magic Tree House #32) By Mary Pope Osborne​

Summer Reading Book Review:Gotham Academy #2: Calamity By Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher, and Karl Kerschl

Summer Reading Book Review:The BFG​ By Roald Dahl

Summer Reading Book Review:Heidi Heckelbeck Has a Secret By Wanda Coven and Priscilla Burris

Summer Reading Book Review:The Maze Runner​ By James Dashner

Summer Reading Book Review:The Raft​ By S.A. Bodeen

Summer Reading Book Review:Meet the Mixels By Shari Last

Summer Reading Book Review:The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (The Chronicles of Narnia) By C.S. Lewis

Summer Reading Book Review:Napoleon: A Life By Andrew Roberts

Summer Reading Book Review:The Last Battle (Chronicles of Narnia) By C.S. Lewis

Summer Reading Book Review:Big Nate: Say Good-Bye to Dork City By Lincoln Peirce

Summer Reading Book Review:Mission Unpluckable (The Bad Guys #2) By Aaron Blabey

Summer Reading Book Review:Reformed By Justin Weinberger

Summer Reading Book Review:Treasure Hunters By James Patterson

Summer Reading Book Review:Seven Dead Pirates By Linda Bailey

Summer Reading Book Review:Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down By Jeff Kinney

Older Book Reviews:

Great Stone Face Teaser:Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made By Stephan Pastis

TAB Book Review:The Obsidian Mirror By Catherine Fisher

Summer Reading Book Review:The Adventures of Captain Underpants By Dav Pilkey

Summer Reading Book Review:The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane By Kate DiCamillo

Summer Reading Book Review:A Christmas Tale By Geronimo Stilton

Summer Reading Book Review:Theodore Boone: The Abduction By John Grisham

Summer Reading Book Review:Wonder By RJ Palacio

Summer Reading Book Review:And Then There Were None By Agatha Christie

Summer Reading Book Review:Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

Summer Reading Book Review:The Pepins and their Problems by Polly Horvath

Summer Reading Book Review:Skateboard Save by Jake Maddox

Summer Reading Book Review:Valentine's Day Disaster by Geronimo Stilton

Summer Reading Book Review:The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien

Summer Reading Book Review:The Kingdom of Fantasy by Geronimo Stilton

Summer reading Book review:Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Summer Reading Book Review:Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Summer Reading Book Review:The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus #2) by Rick Riordan

Summer Reading Book Review:The House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus #4) by Rick Riordan

Summer Reading Book Review:Geronimo Stilton, Secret Agent by Geronimo Stilton

Book Reviews

To search page use ctrl+f, enter search term, and hit enter!

Summer Reading Book Review:
Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia #2)
By C. S. Lewis

Summer Reading Book Review:
My Life in Pink and Green
By Lisa Greenwald

Summer Reading Book Review:
Stuart Little
By E. B. White

Summer Reading Book Review:
Talons of Power (Wings of Fire #9)
By Tui Sutherland

Summer Reading Book Review:
Awkward
By Svetlana Chmakova

Summer Reading Book Review:
Matilda
By Roald Dahl

Summer Reading Book Review:
Ghosts
By Raina Telgemeier

Summer Reading Book Review:
Winter Turning (Wings of Fire #7)
By Tui Sutherland

Summer Reading Book Review:
Moon Rising (Wings of Fire #6)
By Tui Sutherland

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Bridge to Never Land
By Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Summer Reading Book Review:
Tunnels
By Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams

Summer Reading Book Review:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
By J.K. Rowling

Summer Reading Book Review:
Eyewitness: Battle
By Richard Holmes

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles #1)
By Rick Riordan

Summer reading Book Review:
A Long Walk to Water (part 2)
By Linda Sue Park

Summer Reading Book Review:
A Long Walk to Water (part 1)
By Linda Sue Park

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Magician's Nephew
By C.S. Lewis

Summer Reading Book Review:
Misty of Chincoteague
By Marguerite Henry

Summer Reading Book Review:
Paris For Two
By Phoebe Stone

Summer Reading Book Review:
Smile!
By Raina Telgemeier

Summer Reading Book Review:
Ready Player One
By Ernest Cline

Summer Reading Book Review:
Sisters
By Raina Telgemeier

Summer Reading Book Review:
Archie comics
By Bob Montana

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Last Ever After (The School For Good and Evil)
by Soman Chainani

Summer Reading Book Review:
The BFG
By Roald Dahl

Summer Reading Book Review:
Charlotte's Web
By E. B. White

Summer Reading Book Review:
"The Difficult Path" (Flying Lessons & Other Stories)
By Grace Lin, Edited by Ellen Oh

Summer Reading Book Review:
"How to Transform an Everyday Hoop Court Into a Place of Higher Learning and You at the Podium" (Flying Lessons & Other Stories)
By Matt de la Pena, Edited by Ellen Oh

Summer Reading Book Review:
Sugar
By Jewel Parker Rhodes

Summer Reading Book Review:
Stella by Starlight
By Sharon M. Draper

Summer Reading Book Review:
Peril at the Top of the World (Treasure Hunters #4)
By James Patterson

Summer Reading Book Review:
Secret of the Forbidden City (Treasure Hunters #3)
By James Patterson

Summer Reading Book Review:
Hey! Who Stole the Toilet (George Brown Class Clown #8)
By Nancy Krulik

Summer Reading Book Review:
Dog Man #1
By Dav Pilkey

Summer Reading Book Review:
Big Nate Blasts Off
By Lincoln Peirce

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Ice Cream King
By Steve Metzger

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Secret of Wildcat Swamp
By Franklin W. Dixon

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
By C.S. Lewis

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Bridge to Neverland
By Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Summer Reading Book Review:
Fort Solitude (Secret Hero Society #2)
by Derek Fridolfs and Dustin Nguyen

Summer Reading Book Review:
Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Horse and His Boy
By C.S. Lewis

Summer Reading Book Review:
Hurry Up, Houdini! (Magic Tree House #50)
By Mary Pope Osborne

Summer Reading Book Review:
Winter of the Ice Wizard (Magic Tree House #32)
By Mary Pope Osborne

Summer Reading Book Review:
Gotham Academy #2: Calamity
By Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher, and Karl Kerschl

Summer Reading Book Review:
The BFG
By Roald Dahl

Summer Reading Book Review:
Heidi Heckelbeck Has a Secret
By Wanda Coven and Priscilla Burris

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Maze Runner
By James Dashner

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Raft
By S.A. Bodeen

Summer Reading Book Review:
Meet the Mixels
By Shari Last

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (The Chronicles of Narnia)
By C.S. Lewis

Summer Reading Book Review:
Napoleon: A Life
By Andrew Roberts

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Last Battle (Chronicles of Narnia)
By C.S. Lewis

Summer Reading Book Review:
Big Nate: Say Good-Bye to Dork City
By Lincoln Peirce

Summer Reading Book Review:
Mission Unpluckable (The Bad Guys #2)
By Aaron Blabey

Summer Reading Book Review:
Reformed
By Justin Weinberger

Summer Reading Book Review:
Treasure Hunters
By James Patterson

Summer Reading Book Review:
Seven Dead Pirates
By Linda Bailey

Summer Reading Book Review:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down
By Jeff Kinney

Great Stone Face Teaser:
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made
By Stephan Pastis

TAB Book Review:
The Obsidian Mirror
By Catherine Fisher

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Adventures of Captain Underpants
By Dav Pilkey

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
By Kate DiCamillo

Summer Reading Book Review:
A Christmas Tale
By Geronimo Stilton

Summer Reading Book Review:
Theodore Boone: The Abduction
By John Grisham

Summer Reading Book Review:
Wonder
By RJ Palacio

Summer Reading Book Review:
And Then There Were None
By Agatha Christie

Summer Reading Book Review:
Fortunately, the Milk
by Neil Gaiman

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Pepins and their Problems
by Polly Horvath

Summer Reading Book Review:
Skateboard Save
by Jake Maddox

Summer Reading Book Review:
Valentine's Day Disaster
by Geronimo Stilton

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
by JRR Tolkien

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Kingdom of Fantasy
by Geronimo Stilton

Summer reading Book review:
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
by J.K. Rowling

Summer Reading Book Review:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
by J.K. Rowling

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus #2)
by Rick Riordan

Summer Reading Book Review:
The House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus #4)
by Rick Riordan

Summer Reading Book Review:
Geronimo Stilton, Secret Agent
by Geronimo Stilton

Summer Reading Book Review:
The Eye of Minds (Mortality Doctrine #1)
by James Dashner